ROCKLAND —  A 47-year-old man from Bath with a history of prior convictions for assault and other violent crimes, was sentenced to prison for attacking a woman and attempting to strangle her.

James A. Furbish was sentenced March 8 by Judge Paul Mathews in Knox County Unified Court to six years in prison with all but 30 months suspended for domestic violence aggravated assault. The charge of obstructing report of a crime was dismissed. He will serve three years of probation after his release.

According to the affidavit filed by police, a nurse at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport contacted them Dec. 6 about a patient who was being treated for her injuries. The nurse told police that the patient had been assaulted the previous night. There was bruising and swelling on the victim’s neck, consistent with strangulation, the nurse reported.

The victim told police that Furbish, who had been drinking, said she was “mouthy” and choked her by pressing down on her throat with both hands so she could not breath. She told police that she had a cigarette between her fingers and shoved the lit end into his face, according to the affidavit.

He struck the victim several times and ripped away a cellphone as she was trying to call for help. He then wrapped his arm around her neck tightly, causing her to lose consciousness.

Furbish denied assaulting the victim and said there was not a struggle between them, according to the affidavit.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com